Methods of using a canned vacuum source particularly in a disposable urine collection kit with a built-in vacuum pressure

ABSTRACT

A vacuum apparatus including a vacuum means for maintaining a built-in vacuum pressure, a means for connecting said vacuum means with a surface; and a means for equalizing pressure in said vacuum means and pressure on said surface. A method to treat patients using a disposable vacuum source, including applying the disposable vacuum apparatus to the patient&#39;s skin, equalizing the pressure in the vacuum apparatus and the pressure on the skin to apply a vacuum suction force, and releasing the vacuum suction force by equalizing the pressure on the skin with the ambient atmospheric pressure.

The present invention relates to methods of using a canned vacuum source to provide suction force, particularly in a disposable urine collection kit comprising a built-in vacuum pressure for assisting in the efficient collection and effective retention of the urine.

The majority of prior art relating to urine collection devices have focused on devices for patients that are confined to bed. A catheter is often used. For travelers who are in need of a portable urine collection device, containers for other purposes are often used (such as sports drink bottles, plastic bags). Although functional, they have the problems of spillage, odor, and difficulty to dispose of. Some patents cited in the following paragraphs have attempted to use adult dipper, or specially designed funnels and containers to collect urine, but their discomfort and inconvenience are obvious. We summarize prior art as follows:

A. Garment for fixing a urine bag on the body of a user. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,116, Kristensen described a garment for fixing a urine bag. A lot of efforts have been spent on designing similar “garment”, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,509 by Schneider et al., and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,979 by Odis.

B. Diaper-style urine collector for adults. This category is derived from diapers for babies and numerous patents have been written on it.

C. Urine collector specifically designed for patients. In US patent application 20020143318, Flinchbaugh described a magnetic valve bladder cycler drainage system used with urinary catheters. Ahlbeck described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,510 a urine drainage device permitting training of the bladder. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,645, Gregory described a check valve for urine collection device. The valve is placed between a catheter and a urine collection bag in order to prevent back leakage. Miskie described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,679,867 a male incontinence device that uses a back flow chamber to capture urine flowing backward. Cassidy et al. invented a “soft” fluid containment bag for patients with catheters (U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,501) where hydrophilic materials are stored in the bag that gels body fluid to prevent backflow. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,166 by Kuntz, urine is collected in absorbent pad first, and then removed to the container by a vacuum source (pump). U.S. Pat. No. 3,757,359 describes a therapeutic bed pan that collects the urine, and the urine is drained with the help of a pump for disposal. U.S. Pat. No. 2,968,046 used a vacuum force formed from an aspirating water jet to empty urine in a receptacle. Hadley described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,114,916 a female urine collection system with a separate vacuum source (pump). Similar ideas are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,360,933 and 4,531,939, and improvements include utilizing a urine-detecting element to activate the suction source.

D. Support system for a catheter leg bag. Various patents are described in this category for male or female patients, including U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,821, U.S. Pat. No. 3,897,785, U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,837, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,496.

E. Urine collector using suction force (pump). U.S. Pat. No. 3,114,916 describes a female urine collection system with a separate vacuum source (pump) mainly for bed-confined patients. U.S. Pat. No. 2,968,046 also suggests the use of a suction force (pump) to collect urine, with vacuum formed from an aspirating water jet to empty urine in a receptacle. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,608, Birbara designed a portable system for the collection of the urine and the system includes an electric motor, a fan assembly or similar suction source for providing the forced airflow required for urine entrainment. U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,060 described a way to clean urine container utilizing a venturi providing a negative pressure. U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,541 described a pump triggered by liquid sensors to draw the urine. U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,061 also described an automatic urine detecting, collecting and storing device utilizing a vacuum pump. Similar inventions were presented in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,360,933 and 4,281,655. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,939, vacuum suction is used for urinating aid purpose.

F. Urine collection device designed for animals. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,787,843 and 6,722,319 described wearable urine collection devices for animals serving an environmental protection purpose.

G. Urine collection devices designed for other special purposes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,627 described a device specifically for fisherman doing fly-fishing. U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,454 described a urine collection device for female in space travel or other weightless environment alike.

H. Urine collection device with specially designed container or valve: U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,200 described an anti-microbial urine collection system. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,635,036, Tanghoej et al. designed a valve system for a collection bag. U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,680 described a urine bag and self-retracting drain tube. U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,027 involves a female urine collection device, with a waist belt and an airtight seal. U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,539 also described a urine collection apparatus with seal and garment. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,474, Fleeman-Hardwick invented a waterproof non-spill valved bag for male incontinents. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,763, Olsen invented a container for the collection of urine and/or feces, with a non-return valve that prevents leakage.

A primary objective of this invention is to provide methods to use a disposable, ready-to-use vacuum source, that is, the built-in vacuum pressure in the container, that provide a vacuum suction force.

A secondary objective of the invention is to provide a disposable, portable and convenient-to-use urine collection kit for people to use in trips or in emergency when clean toilet is not readily available. This suction force also provides a comfortable yet airtight seal against skins around male or female urine orifice. The same force can contain the urine and odor and prevent backflow or spillage.

Just as carbonated plastic drink bottles or aluminum cans that hold a “positive” pressure, the container designed in this invention maintains a “negative”, or vacuum pressure. The material or structure of the containers is designed to maintain such a negative pressure. It is foreseeable that the cost of such a vacuum container is comparable to a soda bottle.

FIG. 1 describes the preferred embodiment for the urine collection kit.

1. Ring-shaped vacuum seal for the female urine orifice.

2. Extendable funnel. The lower part of the funnel seals the male penis.

3. The valve connecting to the ambient atmosphere to release the vacuum pressure inside the funnel, thus releasing the suction force on the skins.

4. The valve connecting the funnel (3) with the tube (5) and the container (6). When the valve is turned off, i.e., in a storage state, only the tube and the container embodies the vacuum.

5. A flexible tube that can withstand the built-in vacuum pressure.

6. Vacuum container that holds the urine and odor.

7. Removable cap that may be reused to dump or collect the urine and pump out the air for a possible reuse of the kit.

FIG. 2 describes an embodiment to be used as a tool for physical therapy.

1. Vacuum seal to be used for skin contact. The size of the opening is determined by the purpose of usage. A small opening applies suction force on a small area of skin that can be used to treat skin acne. A large opening can be used for physical therapy.

2. The valve connecting the vacuum container (3) with the vacuum seal (2). When the valve is turned on, the vacuum suction force is applied to the skin in contact with the seal.

3. Vacuum container. The ratio between the volume of the container and that contained between skin and the vacuum seal determines the suction force applied.

In one preferred embodiment, the invention includes a collapsible container with a restoring tension provided by external spring-like structure that provides the suction force. The examples described in the following are for illustrative purpose only and should not be interpreted to be limiting. It should be obvious to one skilled in the art to recognize that other alternative embodiments are possible to implement the essential ideas of the present invention.

Below are listed three examples of alternate embodiments of the present invention: (1) Solid plastic bottle with a built-in vacuum pressure. The container cannot be collapsed. This method can probably provide the strongest vacuum pressure but needs more storage space. (2) Collapsed plastic bottle. The container structure is manufactured such that it has a built-in tension from skeleton-like structures to recover the shape of the container to a non-collapsed state, thus providing the suction force. (3) Collapsed container with a supporting structure. The supporting structure can be made with stainless steel or materials alike with a strong tension that supports the sucking force of the container. The supporting structure can be re-used as it does not have contact with the urine.

A vacuum pump can be provided to users who prefer to reuse the kit. The pump can be connected to the removable cap of the container, and pump the container to a certain vacuum level.

The said pump can be an either electrical or manual pump, with the output vacuum pressure adjustable according to users' comfort.

Other applications of this invention include a universal disposable vacuum source that can be applied to other areas of applications. For example, in traditional Chinese medicine, a suction force is needed to apply to the special pressure points on the patients, to achieve effects similar to acupuncture. The suction force has been achieved by setting fire in a small container placed on the patient's skin corresponding to the special points, followed by applying a small pot to cover the fire. The fire burns out oxygen in the small pot and causes a suction force from the partial vacuum. In this procedure, there is an obvious hazard of fire and a difficulty in controlling the strength of the suction force. Using the canned vacuum source described in this invention, one can easily apply plastic cans of various size and vacuum pressure on the patient. The cans are disposable so as to save the cost of disinfections.

Another method of using this invention is to manufacture small plastic tubes with built-in vacuum, that can be used in skin care industry to provide a clean, ease-to-use, and disposable source of suction force to treat acne and to extract secretions from skin follicles.

Another method of using this invention is to manufacture vacuum cans with various sizes that can be applied to patient skins after plastic surgery to help maintain the desired shape of the patient body, or to collect secretions after the surgery, or to use as a tool for physical therapy. The suction pressure is determined by the ratio of the volume of the container to that of the orifice. 

1. A vacuum apparatus, comprising: a vacuum means for providing and maintaining a built-in vacuum pressure; a means for connecting said vacuum means with a surface; and a means for applying a suction force on said surface by equalizing the built-in vacuum pressure with a pressure on said surface.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vacuum means for maintaining a built-in vacuum pressure is provided by a system comprising a vacuum container.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said vacuum container is either a solid container or a collapsible container.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said vacuum container is re-depressurizable.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the system further comprising solid tubing connected to the said vacuum container wherein said solid tubing is capable of maintaining the same level of vacuum pressure as said vacuum container.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said surface is human skin and wherein said means for connecting the vacuum means with the human surface is provided by an extendable funnel and wherein the means for equalizing pressure in the vacuum means and the human skin is provided by a vacuum valve and wherein the solid tubing is further connected to the extendable funnel through the vacuum valve.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the said extendable funnel further comprises a valve that connects the extendable funnel with ambient atmospheric pressure.
 8. An acupressure therapy method comprising: applying a disposable vacuum apparatus to an acupressure point on a patient's skin; equalizing the pressure in the vacuum apparatus and the pressure on the skin to apply a vacuum suction force; and releasing the vacuum suction force by equalizing the pressure on the skin with the ambient atmospheric pressure wherein the vacuum apparatus comprises a vacuum means for providing and maintaining a built-in vacuum pressure, a means for connecting said vacuum means with a surface, and a means for applying a suction force on said surface by equalizing the built-in vacuum pressure with a pressure on said surface.
 9. A method for skin care, comprising: applying a disposable vacuum apparatus to an area of skin; equalizing the pressure in the vacuum apparatus and the pressure on the skin to apply a vacuum suction force; and releasing the vacuum suction force by equalizing the pressure on the skin with the ambient atmospheric pressure wherein the vacuum apparatus comprises a vacuum means for providing and maintaining a built-in vacuum pressure, a means for connecting said vacuum means with a surface, and a means for applying a suction force on said surface by equalizing the built-in vacuum pressure with a pressure on said surface.
 10. A method for physical therapy, comprising: applying a disposable vacuum apparatus to a body part; equalizing the pressure in the vacuum apparatus and the pressure on the body part to apply a vacuum suction force; and releasing the vacuum suction force by equalizing the pressure on the body part with the ambient atmospheric pressure wherein the vacuum apparatus comprises a vacuum means for providing and maintaining a built-in vacuum pressure, a means for connecting said vacuum means with a surface, and a means for applying a suction force on said surface by equalizing the built-in vacuum pressure with a pressure on said surface.
 11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the extendable funnel is used to collect urine and wherein the vacuum container is used to store urine and wherein the apparatus is used as a disposable urine collection kit.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means for equalizing a pressure on the surface with an ambient atmospheric pressure wherein the means for equalizing the pressure on the surface with the ambient atmospheric pressure is also capable of maintaining a different pressure on the surface compared with the ambient atmospheric pressure.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for equalizing pressure in said vacuum means and pressure on said surface is also capable of maintaining a different pressure in said vacuum means and the pressure on said surface.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vacuum means directly retains a content of material to be collected.
 15. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vacuum container directly retains a content of material to be collected.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the content of material to be collected is human urine and wherein the surface is human skin.
 17. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the vacuum pressure in the collapsible container is supported by a tension of a spring-like structure attached to the outer surface of the container.
 18. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the vacuum pressure in the collapsible container is supported by a tension built-in to the structure of the container wall.
 19. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vacuum container is made of plastic.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the inner surface of the plastic container is in direct contact with a content of the material to be collected. 